Microsoft Word Keeps Freezing and Not Responding

Whether you’re writing a novel, a report, or a presentation, Microsoft Word is an indispensable tool for many people. However, if Word freezes or stops responding, it can quickly derail your work. Don’t worry if you’re experiencing this bothersome issue! This post will show you how to fix Word so that it works properly again. 

Note: We’re a third-party support service specializing in resolving Microsoft Word issues. While we’re not directly affiliated with Microsoft, we can provide expert assistance for MS Word-related errors.

Why Does Microsoft Word Keep Freezing?

Here are some common reasons behind Word’s freezing or not responding:

1. Corrupted Word Files: Faulty or damaged documents can crash the software.
2. Add-ins Causing Conflict: Certain third-party add-ins might interfere with Word’s functionality.
3. Outdated Software: Running an older version of Microsoft Word or Office can lead to performance issues.
4. Insufficient System Resources: Low memory or processing power can slow down or freeze Word.
5. Corrupted Normal.dotm Template: This file stores default Word settings and can cause problems when corrupted.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Freezing or Not Responding

1. Open Word in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode disables add-ins and loads Word with default settings. This is a good first step to troubleshoot.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type winword /safe and press Enter.
3. If Word works fine in Safe Mode, the issue might be related to add-ins (see step 3).

2. Update Microsoft Word

Keeping Word up-to-date ensures you have the latest bug fixes and performance improvements.

• Open Word and go to File > Account > Update Options.
• Select Update Now and follow the prompts.

3. Disable Problematic Add-Ins

Faulty add-ins can freeze or crash Word.

1. Open Word in Safe Mode (see step 1).
2. Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
3. Select COM Add-ins from the dropdown menu and click Go.
4. Uncheck all add-ins and restart Word.
5. Enable add-ins one at a time to identify the problematic one.

4. Repair Office Installation

Repairing your Office installation can fix corrupted files causing Word to freeze.

1. Open Control Panel and navigate to Programs > Programs and Features.
2. Find Microsoft Office in the list, right-click, and select Change.
3. Choose Quick Repair or Online Repair and follow the steps.

5. Delete or Reset Normal.dotm

The Normal.dotm template stores Word’s default settings. Resetting it can resolve freezing issues.

1. Close Microsoft Word.
2. Navigate to:
   • Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
3. Rename Normal.dotm to Normal_old.dotm.
4. Restart Word (a new Normal.dotm will be generated).

6. Increase System Resources

Ensure your computer has sufficient RAM and processing power to run Word efficiently. Close unnecessary programs running in the background.

7. Contact Support for Further Help.

If these methods do not cure the problem, you may want expert assistance. While microsoft word help is accessible directly from the company, our third-party service can give customized assistance for Word-related issues. 

Conclusion

Microsoft Word freezing or not responding is a typical problem with several possible reasons. Following these procedures usually allows you to swiftly resolve the issue and return to work.

Remember that we are not Microsoft’s direct support. However, as a third-party service, we specialize in quickly correcting MS Word issues. Contact our specialists immediately if you need any extra help!